Linear pattern for a step pattern - why am I seeing red lines?

ben_huebner

Hello readers,

I'm trying to create a stair step structure on a part by using linear pattern, but have run into a problem. When I put the steps right next to each other, as one would with steps, it seems Onshape doesn't like this, with red lines marking the steps. However, when I slightly increase the distance between instances, I'm left with slotted stairs separated by thin walls of material. I assume this means there is some sort of overlap issue when being more exact. Snapshots below. Is there a way to use linear pattern to accomplish my objective? Or would I have any other recourse?






Thanks,
Ben

NeilCooke

Non-manifold geometry - you can't have solids touching at a single edge or vertex as it is inifinetly small and has no volume

martin_kopplow

You could pattern in the sketch, then extrude. (Calculating step height would also work in a sketch I left it in this sample, though)

https://cad.onshape.com/documents/93b5827459d4a5ef440aa7e2/w/383b5a009bae04f382238fa9/e/328090529e1078f69f625f16?renderMode=0&uiState=656c4e69b0e652402f5ae1b3

It woud be nice though, if the feature pattern had a new/add/subtract/intersect option, just as other tools that might create intersection have. The same goes for extrudes: If an extrude creates a self-intersection, this could in fact be intentional, and should be allowed, maybe after a warning.

ben_huebner

Neil, thank you for your answer, even if I don't fully understand it. This answers the question in my title, but not the other questions in my post. Is there a practical way for me to design a part with a variable number of steps using linear pattern?